Fifer`s Schnauzers

There is a widespread myth that says you have to be careful of cats because they transmit toxoplasmosis.In my pregnancies I have been tested and shown negative for toxoplasmosis antibodies confirming that although I’ve had cats since I was two years old, I’ve never had it.

The reality is that there are several animals that can acquire and transmit toxoplasmosis: dogs, cats, rodents, birds and cows, among others.Transmission occurs by eating contaminated feces or contaminated raw meat.That is the same way animals get it.

I do not know about you but I do not eat cat poop!The key is to keep the litter box clean and wash your hands after cleaning it.It is easier to get toxoplasmosis if you live near a chicken coop because if you have a contaminated chicken, when their feces dry in the sun the wind will blow and could breathe them or eat them over our food.

You can also get it by eating a medium rare steak at the best restaurant in town.

It is important to educate ourselves and not go repeating misinformation that hurts innocent animals.

Garfield is the name of a cat who is the main character in a comic strip created by Jim Davies.It is published in newspapers from the June 19, 1978.The cartoon is about the life of the cat Garfield, his owner Jon Arbuckle and his dog Odie, which takes place in Muncie Indiana, home of Jim Davies.

Garfield is a fat cat, lazy and sarcastic.He loves coffee and hates Mondays.Its charm lies in being able to say things that a human could not tell without being hated.

It is syndicated in about 2,580 newspapers and magazines as well as online, and has the Guinness World Record of being the most widely syndicated comic strip around the world.It also manufactures merchandise with Garfield’s character, which earns between $750 million and $1 billion dollars per year.

Garfield’s creator, Jim Davies, grew up on a farm full of cats and so studied feline behavior.While Garfield has many human characteristics, it also reflects many features common in cats, and their comments sound like what a cat would say if it could talk.

To keep you dog healthy, he must be cleaned and groomed on a regular basis and a good shampoo is an important part of this process. I have found the following instructions that I would like to share with you on how to make homemade dog shampoo (without all the unnecessary chemicals).  It worked great for my pet, so give it a try.

a)   You will need the following materials: 2 cups of water, 2 cups of apple cider vinegar, 2 cups of Ivory brand dish soap, glycerin (that can be purchased in your local pharmacy), an old shampoo bottle and a medium sized bowl.

b)   Carefully pour the liquid soap in the bowl.

c)   Add two cups and water and two cups of apple cider vinegar then stir until mixed.

d)   Add ½ cup of glycerin and again mix well all the ingredients.

e)   Pour into an old shampoo bottle and close the lid.

f)    Put a label on it with your dog’s name.

You have landed on the right page if you are considering giving your dog a proper bath to eliminate fleas. Keep in mind that not just because a dog’s skin itches he automatically has fleas so consult your vet if your pet has this or a similar problem before starting any home applied chemical treatment. Also, remember that in order for anti-flea shampoo to be effective, it must be used with other flea control methods.

Here are step by step instructions on how to your dog a flea bath:

a)   Ask your vet to recommend a good flea shampoo and buy it.

b)   Read the instructions on the label carefully. Be sure to use the correct amount for your  dog size and breed.

c)    Make the water temperature cool or slightly warm. Never use hot water. Dogs overheat more easily than humans.

d)   Wet the neck down the skin while leaving the rest of the body dry.

e)   Apply shampoo and lather deeply around the neck area. This will prevent future flea problems in areas that are more difficult to reach like the eyes, ears and face.

f)    Get the rest of the body wet, shampoo thoroughly and leave it on for several minutes. Rinse well.

g)   If your dog does not have any other skin condition you may want to use a normal or flea control conditioner.

h)   Use a large towel to help you pet dry off.

Most puppies go through a phase where they bite everything they get their paws on. This usually happens because their teeth are coming out or falling off. Dog experts now know that hitting, pushing or grabbing the puppy while he is doing it is not the solution because any of these behaviors are usually interpreted by the animal as your attempt to begin a session of fun and play. Hurting the animal is also a bad idea since it can damage the bond your share and cause him to bite even more.

Teaching bite inhibition requires effective communication with your puppy. Here are a few tips on how to do it successfully.

• While dogs do not understand human words, they can interpret body language, especially when it is exaggerated. Use a firm tone of voice and serious facial expression to explain to him that biting is not allowed.
•  Instead of yelling when biting becomes uncomfortable, whimper or say “oooh” in a gentle yet strong tone. If you can, whimper.
• If the bite hurts, yelp immediately then push in towards the back of the puppy’s mouth to stimulate his gag reflex and make him open his jaw.
• Immediately after yelping, give the puppy a time-out (30 to 60 seconds is long enough) so that he gets the message.
• It will probably take several repetitions before he understands, but in the long run your efforts will pay off.
• Once the puppy mouths gently, positively reinforce his behavior by praising him.

This tasty and colorful recipe makes a patriotic treat for any American dog. Remember to only give your pet a few goodies at a time to avoid an upset stomach.

Ingredients

• 1lb of turkey
• 1 whole egg
• 2 tablespoons of olive oil
• ½ cup cooked start shaped pasta
• ½ cup cooked sundried tomato fettuccine
• 1/3 cup dried corn kernels (dyed blue)

Preparation Method

a)   Place the corn kernels in cold water and bring to boil.

b)   Remove from the stove and let cool down until kernels are completely rehydrated.

c)   Sauté turkey in the olive oil.

d)   Add egg and proceed to scramble until fully cooked.

e)   Add the white pasta, red colored fettuccine strips and blue corn kernels.

f)    Let cool to the touch.

g)   Serve in a small oval shaped bowl. Portions should vary according to dog size and breed.

The American Wirehair cat breed is originally from New York, United States.It is a spontaneous mutation of the American Shorthair.In 1966, a couple of farm cats had a litter of 5 kittens.One of the males had curly hair.

The owner took it to a local Rex cat breeder, which bought the kitten for $ 50 along with a normal hair kitten from the same litter and began the process of breeding them, which produced curly hair kittens that were sold to other interested breeders and eventually exported to Canada and Germany.

American Wirehair Cats have the characteristic that grow very slowly and does not reach adult size until 4 years of age.These cats are very healthy, easy to maintain and very affectionate, making them ideal pets in homes with children.

They love to sit in your lap and be petted, are playful and cheerful.

To all the people having a pet is good, especially children, to whom they teach many important life lessons.But in the case of children with special needs pets are even more important.

Children with special needs have to work harder in order to overcome their difficulties, for that they need encouragement and motivation.Animals, especially dogs and cats are usually a great source of encouragement and motivation.

A child who does not speak will make an effort to say dog, cat or pet’s name.It is also possible to mimic the sound of the animal, which also stimulates language development.

A child, who does not walk, can be motivated to work hard in therapy to play with her dog.And indeed there are many therapies that include animals trained for this purpose.

If the child also has a pet home to be loving to each other, to play, to keep each other company in those days that are more difficult than others, this will enable them to cope better with their situation.

When choosing a pet the most obvious choices are usually dogs and cats, followed by fish, birds, hamsters and seldom any reptile. But it is very unusual for someone to choose a pet pig, especially when you live in the city.

However, pigs are very affectionate and intelligent animals that can be very good pets. Contrary to what people think they are not dirty animals they actually do not like dirt. They cover themselves in mud to cool off on hot days because they have no sweat glands to do that function, but in a cool house they will not have that problem.

The pigs live between 15 and 25 years. In general have good health, and do not need more special care than other pets need. They are omnivorous, meaning that they eat everything like us. To help maintain a healthy weight is recommended to feed them on a diet based on horse feed, to avoid going over the 50kg.

a)   Provide your dog with basic obedience training during the first years of his life.

b)   Keep your dog on a leash and in sight at all times while out in public.

c)   Expose your dog to anything that might cause fear such as loud noises, vehicles and all sorts of animals while keeping the experience positive.

d)   Let your dog mingle with different kinds of people. Expose him to children, elderly people and disabled persons.

e)   Never discipline your dog with aggressive or violent punishments.

f)    Warn others if you suspect or know that your dog could bite. If this is the case, use a muzzle.